Oasis Tanning Company

The Oasis Tanning Company is a family run business that produces and sells top quality leather and hides, and specialises in exotic game skins. Established in 1961, the business is based near Mogale City, Krugersdorp. Today, Oasis Tanning is considered one of the leading exotic tanners in the country, producing high quality hides and game skins for local and international clients.

Lion skin rug.

The business was founded by the late Chris van der Merwe, who ran it with his son, Andre van der Merwe, and his son-in-law Grant Hoffman, until his retirement in 2011. During his tenure as owner of the tannery, Chris was one of the first tanners to produce elephant hide on a large scale in Africa, and he became one of the largest producers of ostrich leather in the southern hemisphere.

The company’s range of products includes game skins, leather, furniture, gun bags, and curios. A wide range of game skins are available at the store, including kudu, springbok, blesbuck, red hartebeest, gemsbok, impala, buffalo, ostrich, elephant, zebra and blue wildebeest. Oasis has an exclusive selection of lion skins and mounts, which are sourced from Botswana. Each lion skin and mount has its own certificate from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

The factory’s state-of-the-art equipment also allows Oasis to produce more exotic hides such as hippo and elephant.

The furniture available at Oasis Tanning includes ottomans, futons, cushions and trunks – all of which are created using quality leather and hide, and can be tailored to the customer’s specifications. The store is known for its superior craftsmanship.

Hide products are exported to Europe, the United States and the Far East, Australia and the Middle East.